Easy Chair Covers

Give ordinary dining-room chairs a whole new look with easy-to-make chair covers made from leftover fabrics, pillowcases and even T-shirts.

Here’s a plan for making a no-sew chair cover:

Materials and Tools:

fabric
fabric glue
ribbon
measuring tape

Steps:

1. Measure the back of the chair, from the top of the chair to just short of the floor.

2. Measure the front, starting at the top and going down to the seat cushion and then measuring along the seat and down to the floor.

3. Add all measurements together, allowing 1 1/2 inches for seam allowance. Measure the width of the chair, and cut a piece of fabric to the specifications you’ve come up with.

4. Make hems on the edges of the cover by turning the edges of the fabric under and securing with fabric glue.

5. Glue a piece of ribbon onto the slipcover.

6. Position the cover and secure to the chair with the ribbons.

Here are more ideas for dressing up your dining-room chairs:

• Slip large pillowcases over the backs of chairs to make instant slipcovers.

• T-shirts work great as chair covers for an informal dinner party. Use a variety of colored T-shirts to cover stackable or folding chairs and create a fun atmosphere for a garden party.

• Using a strip of satin, tie a decorative bow in the middle and slip over the back of a chair. This is a beautiful way to adorn chairs for a wedding party.

• Use a loose chair cushion to add a new look to an old chair. A thick cushion also makes a useful booster chair for small children.